WHEN Bryn Williams quit his job as a Manweb electrician to take up farming, friends thought him potty.

And when he decided to open a butchers shop in Bethesda, even his new farming colleagues thought him a bit mad.

But less than two years after the birth of Cig Ogwen, the company has already cleared its borrowings and shoppers in Bethesda have access to some of the finest Farm Assured meats around.

“Now I wouldn’t go back to my old job for all the tea in China,” said Bryn, 42.

Bryn and Sue Williams moved to Gwern Gof Uchaf, Capel Curig, in 1995 with their two children, Kieren and Kirsty.

First job was to improve campsite facilities on the 750-acre traditional hill farm, at the foot of Tryfan peak.

Livestock was sold live at Gaerwen market and dead via Cig Môn. In a fluctuating marketplace Bryn saw butchery as a way of controlling his returns – even though competition from supermarkets had put paid to many village butchers.

Bryn said: “Perhaps because I’m from a non-farming background I see things a little differently.”

After buying a former carpet shop in Bethesda, he snapped up the contents of a butchers shop on Anglesey that was closing down.

In July 2005, after fitting out the shop himself, he opened the doors to Cig Ogwen.

Bryn said: “There’s a strong sense of community here and older people in particular rely on their local services, including the butchers shop and grocers.

“They have been very supportive and the business is now ticking over quite nicely.”

The shop also processes three to four cattle carcasses each week, mainly native breeds including, soon, Highland beef.

As a Christmas treat for customers, Bryn snaps up Welsh Black champions at the Gaerwen and Llanrwst festive fatstock shows.

Little goes to waste, with trimmings going into homemade sausages, burgers and pies. The shop’s barbecue range is a also a big seller.

In recent weeks Bryn’s been watching plunging lamb prices with a mixture of shock and relief.

He said: “I still struggle to understand how lamb prices can swing so wildly. In terms of the prices we offer our suppliers, obviously we follow the market but we also offer to cover their costs, such as MLC fees, as well. It gives them a little extra in their pockets.

“I’d like to do more but my hands are tied because the supermarkets are so competitive. The only way we can survive is by keeping costs low.”

Cig Ogwen is open six days a week, 9am-5pm except Wednesdays (9am-1pm) and Saturdays (9am-2pm).